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Trump wants to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan before the election

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Jak Fraam

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US President Donald Trump intends to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan before the presidential election, which will be held in 2020. This was announced on July 29 by Secretary of State Michael Pompeo at a meeting of the non-profit organization "Economic Club" in Washington. "He (Trump) was unequivocal: stop the endless wars," cited Pompeo the American leader. The Secretary of State added that the United States has made "real progress" in negotiations with the Taliban and is hoping to end the 18-year war by September 2020.

Although the negotiations in Doha (Qatar) are changing with varying degrees of success, both the Americans and the Taliban are reporting significant progress made by the negotiators. The source of the Associated Press in the Taliban said that the parties "overcame disagreements over the withdrawal of US forces." However, the Taliban haven't changed their attitude to the government of Afghanistan: they consider it a puppet, and the presidential elections which are scheduled for September 28, are illegitimate. It's noted that until the possible signing of an agreement between the parties, only a few weeks or months remain.

President Donald Trump is determined, especially on the eve of the new presidential campaign in 2020 in the United States. But there are serious constraints - the position of influential US military and industrial communities and some influential politicians who advocate the war in Afghanistan to a victorious end. This end has been lasted for 18 years, but the US victory over the Taliban hasn't reached. It can be assumed that it won't happen anymore, since the Taliban fully restored its combat potential and doesn't accept anything less than participation in the government and the expulsion of foreign troops.

At the same time, the consequences of Americans leaving the region can hardly be overestimated. Whatever the criticism of the presence of US troops in Afghanistan, they won't allow the Taliban to come to power a second time in this country, and President Ashraf Ghani understands this very well. Iran, Pakistan and the Central Asian states need to build up their military capabilities in the border areas to combat drug trafficking and illegal migration.

In case of the withdrawal of American troops, Afghanistan will again become a breeding ground for Islamic radical groups, which will destabilize the entire region. In 2001, the Americans overthrew the Taliban, and in 2020 they give up Afghanistan to Taliban. Moreover, they represent the achievement of agreements with the Islamic radical movement as their success. At this rate, the United States will begin to negotiate with the Islamic state.
 
Jak Fraam said:
Iran, Pakistan and the Central Asian states need to build up their military capabilities in the border areas to combat drug trafficking and illegal migration.
Click to expand...

Quite funny. Pakistani ISI paramilitary protect drug caravans traveling across Afghanistan.
 
We can't have Afghanistan fall into chaos again.

Too bad our European allies won't step up and offer more help. Afghanistan is in their backyard.
 
Rogue Valley said:
Quite funny. Pakistani ISI paramilitary protect drug caravans traveling across Afghanistan.
Click to expand...

Afghanistan is strategically important because it is rich in rare earth elements. China is trying to get mining established, and is a good fit because corruption is a way if life for both countries.

The other issue is the more China, the less pressure on fighting the drug routes into Europe. With China’s growing domestic drug problems, maybe Trump is right. Dump it on China.

The middle east is a festering mess. China and the middle east deserve each other!
 
I have supported getting out of Afghanistan for years. Whether King Tangface will do it or not, I don't know.
 
Jak Fraam said:
US President Donald Trump intends to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan before the presidential election, which will be held in 2020. This was announced on July 29 by Secretary of State Michael Pompeo at a meeting of the non-profit organization "Economic Club" in Washington. "He (Trump) was unequivocal: stop the endless wars," cited Pompeo the American leader. The Secretary of State added that the United States has made "real progress" in negotiations with the Taliban and is hoping to end the 18-year war by September 2020.

Although the negotiations in Doha (Qatar) are changing with varying degrees of success, both the Americans and the Taliban are reporting significant progress made by the negotiators. The source of the Associated Press in the Taliban said that the parties "overcame disagreements over the withdrawal of US forces." However, the Taliban haven't changed their attitude to the government of Afghanistan: they consider it a puppet, and the presidential elections which are scheduled for September 28, are illegitimate. It's noted that until the possible signing of an agreement between the parties, only a few weeks or months remain.

President Donald Trump is determined, especially on the eve of the new presidential campaign in 2020 in the United States. But there are serious constraints - the position of influential US military and industrial communities and some influential politicians who advocate the war in Afghanistan to a victorious end. This end has been lasted for 18 years, but the US victory over the Taliban hasn't reached. It can be assumed that it won't happen anymore, since the Taliban fully restored its combat potential and doesn't accept anything less than participation in the government and the expulsion of foreign troops.

At the same time, the consequences of Americans leaving the region can hardly be overestimated. Whatever the criticism of the presence of US troops in Afghanistan, they won't allow the Taliban to come to power a second time in this country, and President Ashraf Ghani understands this very well. Iran, Pakistan and the Central Asian states need to build up their military capabilities in the border areas to combat drug trafficking and illegal migration.

In case of the withdrawal of American troops, Afghanistan will again become a breeding ground for Islamic radical groups, which will destabilize the entire region. In 2001, the Americans overthrew the Taliban, and in 2020 they give up Afghanistan to Taliban. Moreover, they represent the achievement of agreements with the Islamic radical movement as their success. At this rate, the United States will begin to negotiate with the Islamic state.
Click to expand...

Hmm... you seem to be asserting (implying) that the US is at war against the Taliban. Most assume that the US is at war with AQ, ISIS and various other terrorists (terror groups?) located inside Afghanistan. If the Taliban is both a US military enemy and a terror group (military target of the "war on terror") then it should be illegal for the US to negotiate with the Taliban - since the US has a stated policy of not negotiating with terror groups.
 
I have given up on any reasonable discussion on Afghanistan, the mess that will never end.
 
Ending (one of?) the longest war(s?) in US history is a good idea. Letting Trump take credit for doing so is likely to face opposition from many fronts. Unless someone can point out a concise definition of the US military mission in Afghanistan and present a reason why the "battle plan" used by the most powerful (and expensive) military force on the planet has not been able to defeat an enemy with no air power, no naval power and a rag tag, at best, army in 18 years then simply giving up (as we did in Vietnam) is the best option.
 
wasn't the time to make this kind of call BEFORE we arrived to nation-build?

so, let's take another look at the vietnam experience and declare victory while retreating
 
I wonder if that full withdrawal will include military contractors (mercenaries and support workers) or whether Trump is quietly willing to see a corporate military occupation of Afghanistan? This was suggested by Erik Prince a couple of years back and was rejected by Trump's now fired, resigned and retired generals. Will Afghanistan become a sovereign state again or the first corporate military occupation in the region since fall of the British East India Company?

Cheers.
Evilroddy.
 
Afghanistan will again fall under Taliban rule as a vassal state of Pakistan.

The Taliban will control Afghanistan's poppy production, and the warlords/ISI will control the heroin labs and supply route's for the finished product.

Afghanistan will be a narco-state with Sharia law applied to women. One unknown is the status of foreign terrorist groups under this regime.

Under the Pashtun code of Pashtunwali, the principle of Nanawatai demands that protection be given to a person against his enemies.
 
Rogue Valley said:
Afghanistan will again fall under Taliban rule as a vassal state of Pakistan.

The Taliban will control Afghanistan's poppy production, and the warlords/ISI will control the heroin labs and supply route's for the finished product.

Afghanistan will be a narco-state with Sharia law applied to women. One unknown is the status of foreign terrorist groups under this regime.

Under the Pashtun code of Pashtunwali, the principle of Nanawatai demands that protection be given to a person against his enemies.
Click to expand...

That, sadly, is most likely true but would another 20 years of US military presence (using the current "battle plan") change that?
 
Evilroddy said:
I wonder if that full withdrawal will include military contractors (mercenaries and support workers) or whether Trump is quietly willing to see a corporate military occupation of Afghanistan? This was suggested by Erik Prince a couple of years back and was rejected by Trump's now fired, resigned and retired generals. Will Afghanistan become a sovereign state again or the first corporate military occupation in the region since fall of the British East India Company?

Cheers.
Evilroddy.
Click to expand...

I doubt the PMC's would want to work in Afghanistan without the presence of the US military to back them up. No quick air cover, no quick reinforcements should the crap hit the wall. A few thousand PMC's would see their base/s overrun in a few months after the US withdrew
 
Evilroddy said:
I wonder if that full withdrawal will include military contractors (mercenaries and support workers) or whether Trump is quietly willing to see a corporate military occupation of Afghanistan? This was suggested by Erik Prince a couple of years back and was rejected by Trump's now fired, resigned and retired generals. Will Afghanistan become a sovereign state again or the first corporate military occupation in the region since fall of the British East India Company?

Cheers.
Evilroddy.
Click to expand...

That is EXACTLY what Erik Prince has been whispering to anyone who will listen.
He says that he thinks it will only cost five billion dollars. Yeah, right. :lamo

 
Lord Tammerlain said:
I doubt the PMC's would want to work in Afghanistan without the presence of the US military to back them up. No quick air cover, no quick reinforcements should the crap hit the wall. A few thousand PMC's would see their base/s overrun in a few months after the US withdrew
Click to expand...

Probably. But I wouldn't be surprised to see Wagner doing odd jobs in-country.
 
Lord Tammerlain said:
I doubt the PMC's would want to work in Afghanistan without the presence of the US military to back them up. No quick air cover, no quick reinforcements should the crap hit the wall. A few thousand PMC's would see their base/s overrun in a few months after the US withdrew
Click to expand...

Lord Tamerlain:

PMSC owners like Erik Prince want their own air forces and artillery battalions as part of the package. Light tactile fighter bombers and attack helicopters included. They also want light and medium artillery and multiple rocket launchers too. This is not the Wild Geese model of mercenary operations, but rather a fully funded and fully armed corporate military and logistic machine to occupy Afghanistan that is being talked about.

Cheers.
Evilroddy.
 
Jak Fraam said:
US President Donald Trump intends to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan before the presidential election, which will be held in 2020. This was announced on July 29 by Secretary of State Michael Pompeo at a meeting of the non-profit organization "Economic Club" in Washington. "He (Trump) was unequivocal: stop the endless wars," cited Pompeo the American leader. The Secretary of State added that the United States has made "real progress" in negotiations with the Taliban and is hoping to end the 18-year war by September 2020.

Although the negotiations in Doha (Qatar) are changing with varying degrees of success, both the Americans and the Taliban are reporting significant progress made by the negotiators. The source of the Associated Press in the Taliban said that the parties "overcame disagreements over the withdrawal of US forces." However, the Taliban haven't changed their attitude to the government of Afghanistan: they consider it a puppet, and the presidential elections which are scheduled for September 28, are illegitimate. It's noted that until the possible signing of an agreement between the parties, only a few weeks or months remain.

President Donald Trump is determined, especially on the eve of the new presidential campaign in 2020 in the United States. But there are serious constraints - the position of influential US military and industrial communities and some influential politicians who advocate the war in Afghanistan to a victorious end. This end has been lasted for 18 years, but the US victory over the Taliban hasn't reached. It can be assumed that it won't happen anymore, since the Taliban fully restored its combat potential and doesn't accept anything less than participation in the government and the expulsion of foreign troops.

At the same time, the consequences of Americans leaving the region can hardly be overestimated. Whatever the criticism of the presence of US troops in Afghanistan, they won't allow the Taliban to come to power a second time in this country, and President Ashraf Ghani understands this very well. Iran, Pakistan and the Central Asian states need to build up their military capabilities in the border areas to combat drug trafficking and illegal migration.

In case of the withdrawal of American troops, Afghanistan will again become a breeding ground for Islamic radical groups, which will destabilize the entire region. In 2001, the Americans overthrew the Taliban, and in 2020 they give up Afghanistan to Taliban. Moreover, they represent the achievement of agreements with the Islamic radical movement as their success. At this rate, the United States will begin to negotiate with the Islamic state.
Click to expand...

Good, way overdue, we should have left years ago.
 
ttwtt78640 said:
OK, so why not just get out now instead of playing some gradual force reduction games - essentially having ever fewer US troops face an ever growing threat?
Click to expand...

Where have I argued for "playing games" as you suggest? Post# please.

Let's be upfront here. Trump desires US forces out of Afghanistan before the election for purely political reasons.

He could have ordered a US withdrawal at any time since the Inauguration. He didn't. But now he is grasping at political straws.

A Fox poll found four Dem candidates would handily defeat Trump head-on. Fox News poll shows Trump losing

And he will accept whatever settlement the Taliban negotiators in Vienna cram down his throat to achieve his Pyrrhic "victory".

So let's not pretend that Trump is acting for strictly altruistic and strategic reasons.
 
swing_voter said:
We can't have Afghanistan fall into chaos again.

Too bad our European allies won't step up and offer more help. Afghanistan is in their backyard.
Click to expand...

NATO responded to the attack on the US. Two Portugese soldiers died in Afghanistan because America had been attacked. The US has been driving the bus in Afghanistan since the war started and troop withdrawals have been the American decision.
Two Latvians died there, too.
 
Rogue Valley said:
Quite funny. Pakistani ISI paramilitary protect drug caravans traveling across Afghanistan.
Click to expand...

Funny, but when the right wing was singing the Bush/Cheney song, pointing out the role of the Pakistani ISI would get you ganged up on by every Limbaugh looney on the forum!!!!!

Bush repeatedly tried to claim Bin Laden was dead, when the ISI knew exactly where he was the whole time!
 
swing_voter said:
We can't have Afghanistan fall into chaos again.

Too bad our European allies won't step up and offer more help. Afghanistan is in their backyard.
Click to expand...


NATO carried the brunt of the Afghan war for a decade, while the Bush administration screwed around in Iraq.
 
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